Later that day, New Haven’s “blue ribbon panel” on readingpublished its plan, as advanced by Mayor Toni Harp, for a “city that reads.” With sections on Early Literacy, Grade-Level Reading, Reading Disability, English Learners, Parents and Community, and Adult Education corresponding to six sub-committees, the plan seeks to “establish” a “culture of improvement focusing on reading.”

That same evening of May 17, Read to Grow held a benefit featuring author, activist, and retired basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who earlier was quoted saying “My college education was always just as important to me as my basketball career. When I was at UCLA, I got just as much pleasure and satisfaction from producing a well-written essay as I did from winning a game. Basketball is a temporary vocation, but learning is a life-long avocation. What good does it do to make a lot of money but never progress intellectually?”

Literacy Volunteers will recognize its tutors and students at the 2017 “Hear Our Voices” occasion that includes publication of student work, at the Public Library’s main branch, at 5:30 p.m. on June 14. (The 2016 version of Hear Our Voices is already online.)

Finally, given concerns about “summer learning loss,” LEAP – which recently earned the NewAlliance Foundation’s “Hi-5 High Impact Literacy Award” of $20,000 – works with students over the summer (and year-round) to reinforce the importance of reading: The organization’s annual “Read-In on the Green” will be held in the center of New Haven the morning of July 14.